Folding coop



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W E. TATE.

FOLDING 0001 Patented Feb. 7,1888.-

W1TNEs$Es INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES Erica;

'ATENT FOLDING COOP- SPBCIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No.377,650, dated February 7, 1888.

Application filed November 10, 18b7, Serial No. 251,850. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELBER'I TATE, of Weatherford, in the countyof Parker and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Folding Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a folding coop or crate, which may be readily foldedinto a compact form for transportation or storage when empty, and whichmay be conveniently adjusted to open position for use and secured insuch position when so desired.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novelcombinations of parts, as will be described and claimed.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a topplan view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, andFig. 3 a crosssection, of my coop as when ready for use. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the device with the several parts opened. Figs. 5and 6 are respectively side and end views of the coop folded up as fortransportation orstorage, and Fig. 7 is a detail view.

The coop by which term I shall refer to the device, as it is especiallyintended for the shipment of fowls, such as chickens, ducks, and thelike-consists of the bottom sections, A

I A, the side sections, B B, the top sections, 0

O, the partition D, the ends E E,and the hinges and fastenings, as willbe described.

The bottom,which is preferably formed of the sections A A, has suchsections hinged together at their inner edges, so they may fold backonto each other. This hinge-connection in the construction shown ispreferably formed of leaves F F and a pintle or rod, G, theleavesbeing'parts of straps of iron which are secured to and extend across theunder side of the bottom sections, operating as braces therefor,and alsoserving to provide sections of the hinges which connect the sides withthe bottom sections.

Straps H H are extensions of the inner ends of the hinge-leaves F, whichstraps have their upper ends bent at h, forming hooks, which in practicelap over the base-rod of the partition from the opposite sides of suchbaserod and secure the partition in place. The side 13 is hinged at itslower edge to the bottom, usually to the section A thereof, and isprovided with the clasps or catches I, for securing the ends and thetop. These catches may be of thevariety shown or of other suitableconstruetipn, and it is manifest that it would involve no departure fromthe broad principles of the invention to support the catches on the endsand top instead of on the side B. The side B is hinged at one edge tothe bottom, usually to the side edge of section A thereof. The ends arehinged at one end to the'opposite ends of the side B.

The top sections, 0 O, are hinged together at their adjacent edges, thesection 0 being hinged to the upper edge of side B and the partition Dbeing connected with the sections G (J at the juncture of such sections.The connection of the partition with the top sections and the connectionbetween the said sec tions is preferably effected, as shown most clearlyin Figs. 3 and 4, byproviding the par- I tition at its upper edge orside with short arms or rods d, which project to the opposite sides I ofsaid partition and are pivoted at their ends to the top sections, asshown.

It will be understood thatthe arrangement 7 of the parts shown in Fig. 4is for the purpose of illustration, and that it is never necessary to soarrange the parts in the adjustment of the coop from the folded positionto the position for use, or vice versa.

When the coop is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and it isdesired to fold it I up, thecatches should be released. The bottom maythen be bent sufficiently to release the partition from the hooks h. Theends may be folded back against the side section, B, which section B maybe folded down against the bottom section, AT. The top sections andpartition may then be folded together and down upon the sideB and theend'sfolded o thereon. The side B can now be folded against the upperside of the section A, when sections A A may be folded bottom-to bottomon their hinge-connection, and the device will be in the compact formshown in Figs. 4 and 5. Astrap, J, is provided for securing the parts inthe folded position, such strap being secured between its ends to one ofthe sections and having perforations near its ends to receive a pindriven in one of the bottom secmo tions. I

It will be seen that the partition, in addition to serving as a supportor brace for the top, serves to divide the coopinto two compartments, sothat the fowls in the coop will be kept separated and cannot crowdtogether or pile up on each other in such manner as to be smothered intransit.

The ends lit in between the bottom, the top, and the sides, and alsoserve to brace the coop when in position for use. WVhen in use, the topsection, 0, maybe opened, ifdesired, without opening the rest of the topor disturbing the partition, and either end may be opened independentlyof the other.

The coop is strong and rigid in use, and when not in use may, as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, be folded into very compact form for transportation orstorage. Also, by reason of forming the ends, sides, top, and partitionof wire frames, the coop will be much lighter than the ordinary woodencoop, and consequently will cost less to ship either full or empty.

The side, end, and top sections and partition, being formed of wire ormetal frames suitably braced, and having wire-netting formed acrossthem, properly retain the fowls, and at the same time give ample air andventilation, tending to keep the fowls free from disease.

It will be understood that in practice the sections or frames, sides,ends, and top, and the partition should be so netted as to properlyconfine the chickens, ducks,or other fowls it is desired to coop.

In Fig. 7 I show a typical section in detail, it comprising the outsiderods or frame, the crossrods, and the diagonal rods.

The sections or frames may be so formed or otherwise suitably closed asto retain the fowls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thecombination, in a coop, of the bottom, sides, and ends, the top formedin sections hinged together, whereby one section may be raised withoutthe other,and the partition dividing the coop into compartments andarranged at the juncture of the sections of the top, substantially asset forth.

2. In a folding coop, the combination of the bottom, sides, ends, andtop, the latter being formed in sections,and the partition connectedwith the top at the juncture of its sections, whereby to support suchsectional top, substantiall y as set forth.

3. The coinbination,with the ends,the sides, the top,and thepartition,of the bottom formed of sections hinged together and providedat their hinged or abutting edges with hooks for engaging and securingthe lower edge of the partition, substantially as set forth.

4. In a folding coop,the combination of the sides, the bottom, the endpieces, the top sections, and the partition having short bars or arms dsecured between their ends to the partition, projected to the oppositesides of said partition, and pivotally connected at their ends to thesections of the top, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coop, the combination of the bottom sections hinged together andprovided at their hinged or abutting edges with catches for securing thepartition,the ends, the sides hinged to the. bottom, and the top hingedto one of the sides and provided with the partition,snbstantially as setforth.

6. The improved coop herein described, consisting of thebottom sections,A A, hinged together, the side B, hinged to section A, the side 13,hinged to section A, the ends E, hinged to side 13, the top sections, 0C, the former being hinged to side B, and the partition connected withthe top sections at the point of connection of the latter, substantiallyas set forth.

, WILLIAM ELBERT TATE.

Vi tn esses:

ALBERT F. STARR, OoN D. HARTNETT.

